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Volunteer Paul Hancock pushes an oven damaged by floodwaters onto a pile of debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on Sept. 3 in Spring, Texas. Hancock and numerous other volunteers are helping flood victims across the Houston area. | David J. Phillip/AP Photo

Harvey relief: House seeks to match White House disaster request

House Republicans have taken the first step toward approving aid for those affected by Hurricane Harvey, introducing a bill Sunday night that matches the White House’s $7.85 billion request.

Posting bill text so quickly could enable GOP leaders to hold a vote on the emergency funding package as soon as lawmakers return Tuesday from their months-long recess.

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“These funds are needed, and they are needed now. I expect the House to move rapidly to approve this assistance,” House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) said in a written statement Sunday night.

“It is clear that this recovery will be a long haul — and additional assistance will be necessary in the near future.”

The measure includes the Trump administration’s request for $5.9 billion toward the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster fund, which is used to reimburse individuals for things like temporary rental costs following disasters, and to pay grants to affected government institutions and certain nonprofits.

So far, FEMA has paid out $37 million in individual assistance from that fund to help people impacted by the hurricane.

The legislation also includes the administration’s request for $450 million to support the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program.